Fellow Eagles,

As this year draws to a close, so does my term as your president. Reflecting on the last two years, I am deeply grateful for how we have served AU together. Being the first Black woman to serve in this role has brought me great pride, as has being in this role as our family of AU alumni grew to 150,000. Family is central to who I am, and this family is strong.

Sitting in this spot as we accomplished a $500 million fundraising goal and successfully closed the Change Can’t Wait campaign brought me incredible joy. Representing you as we thanked President Burwell for her service and welcomed President Alger to AU has been an absolute honor.

I also had the privilege of supporting the selection of our first Vice President of Inclusive Excellence to campus and helping to celebrate our organization as a 2024 recipient of the Insight Into Diversity Alumni Association Inclusive Excellence Award.

All these accomplishments represent personal values of mine. And sharing them with this great institution is a point of pride and an affirmation that doing this work is essential. It’s vital! Being engaged, understanding the value of an AU education, and sharing that with others really is an act of service and love.

Now, I leave this role in the very capable hands of my good friend, Patty Caballero, SOC/BA ’91, Kogod/MBA ’00. Patty is a strong leader and an excellent communicator, and I know she will lead with incredible thoughtfulness and grace. I am excited to be alongside her as we advance this great university.

To my AUAB colleagues, the many other volunteers with whom I have worked, and all AU community members who support the work of our alma mater, thank you! I’ll transition from this role but never from the enthusiastic support of this institution.

Have a wonderful holiday season—and remember, "once an Eagle, always an Eagle!"

Warmly,
LaTanya Sothern, SOC/BA ’92